Disadvantaged Business Enterprise owners are certified to do certain types of work for prime contractors. This "scope of work," based on what types of work the DBE owner has the capability and capacity to do, is classified using the North American Industry Classification System.

Just like any other business, DBE owners have the opportunity to expand, grow and develop their business and increase their "scope of work." Using the NAICS Expansion Program, DBE contractors are allowed to perform work outside of their certification codes but within their abilities, to gain the experience, skills and expertise needed to expand their certification.

If the DBE performs the additional type of work successfully on several contracts, the Missouri Regional Certification Committee* will review and upgrade the DBE's certification "scope of work" to include the expanded classification for additional types of work.

Until the certification scope of work is approved and expanded by the MRCC, DBE participation in work outside of their current classification cannot be counted toward a prime contractors goal for DBE participation. MoDOT will, however, count participation in classification expansion by certified DBEs as a good faith effort by the prime contractor toward meeting participation goals.

* The Missouri Regional Certification Committee is made up of the Missouri Department of Transportation, St. Louis Lambert Airport Authority, the City of Kansas City, Kansas City Transportation Authority and Metro, as well as others.